For the FathersMinistry

The Hebrew noun form of “immersion” is in the Greeks called baptism, meaning “to totally immerse or dip.” In secular usage, the term is often used to describe the process of dipping a piece of cloth in a dye in order to change its appearance. Perhaps the best word is “identification,” as the cloth is now identified with the color of the dye. This gives us the meaning of immersion. This Jewish immersion is a complete immersion to identify with a particular event or message. This act of immersion would take place in a proper pool, called Mikvah. Numerous Mikvahs were found on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, as well as in any sizable community throughout the Land.[1]

Rev6.11a Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer…

Rev7.14b They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Rev3.5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

Mikvah within Judaism is an expression of cleansing, repentance, and identification. John the Baptist therefore was not teaching something new but calling on Israel to identify with the message God had given to him.[2]